Gay Cape Town

With its stunning natural beauty, Cape Town is a tourist’s delight and caters for everyone, including the gay traveller. There is a concentration of pink venues along the Atlantic seaboard. De Waterkant, on the outskirts of the city centre, has been turned into a gay village.

Did you know?

The Mother City Queer Project was held for the first time in 1994 to celebrate the protection of gay rights that the new South African dispensation guarantees.

With its rocking nightlife, beautiful beaches and five-star accommodation, Cape Town is one of the top gay travel destinations in the world.

The friendly city is filled with gay people who have chosen Cape Town as their home, not only because of its spectacular sights, but also because the people of Cape Town are generally liberal and welcoming.

Out Now Business Class, which specialises in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) travel market, has named Cape Town as one of the top 20 gay travel destinations for 2013.

Trendy places like the De Waterkant Village are popular hangouts for gay people, and the immediate vicinity is filled with clubbing spots like Beulah Bar (which mostly caters for lesbians), Beefcakes, and drag club Bubbles.

To ogle buff bodies, or to show off your own, head down to Clifton’s third beach, or to Sandy Bay, the only nudist beach in the city. There are four beaches at Clifton, separated by large, ancient boulders. Each beach has its distinctive personality, and third beach is quintessentially gay.

South Africa has a liberal constitution and gay marriages are legal, which makes Cape Town the perfect wedding destination. There is an entire industry dedicated to organising weddings on wine farms, at hotels, on yachts and even on Table Mountain.

The city really comes out to party in December and one of the most eagerly anticipated events is the Mother City Queer Project, the biggest themed costume party in Africa. Last year thousands of people dressed up to a fairytale theme and partied the night away.

While there are many gay-only establishments, gay people are welcome everywhere – and often straight people hang out in gay establishments like Beefcakes and Bubbles.

Travel tips & Planning info

Who to contact

How to get here

You can take a direct flight from many cities, including Johannesburg, Munich, London, Paris and Dubai.

Best time to visit

Cape Town is a year-round destination, but the city truly sparkles between December and April.

What to pack

The height of our tourist season is between February and March, when the weather is bright and hot. Pack lightly, but do add a light jacket, as it can get cool at night. Don’t forget a high SPF sunscreen for when you go to Clifton, plus your camera and walking shoes.

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